CELEBRATING REPRESENTATION

If you haven’t been blessed by her presence, you’ve certainly felt her impact. Attorney Suntrease Williams-Maynard, one of our 50 Most Beautiful this year, has trickled her talents from the federal courts all the way down to our community to bring inclusivity and integral change in all facets of our society. This year, Juneteenth was celebrated as a national holiday across our nation on June 19, and in light and love, the inaugural Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Pageantry Program was created by The Maynard 4 Foundation (TMF4).

By Ally Clements

Along with her husband and children, Suntrease founded The Maynard 4 Foundation to bring cultural change to society in our everyday lives, from educational institutions to cubical-walled offices. Through many directions of life in education and career, they saw a need for change—and became it with this nonprofit organization. This inaugural year, the M4F welcomed the Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Pageantry Program into their list of programs. Open nationwide to young women between the ages of 13– 18, the pageant is geared toward showcasing not only outward beauty, but the ability to break stereotypes while building confidence and embracing our local Black and African-American history and culture.

Suntrease has walked many walks through her career and life. All those paths led her here, providing an experience and stepping stone for these young women. The foundation’s goal is to implement integral change in our society by extending resources so that everyone can equally share the American dream, and for these 14 young women, they did just that—they were seen, they were heard, and they were given the floor to build the confidence needed to go the distances they deserve.

The pageant provided three days of resources, workshops, and experience, allowing contestants to learn and grow in their abilities and skills. Ranging from financial literacy to fund college to a talent portion showcasing their culture and highlighting an African-American woman they researched, these young women more than rose to the occasion. The final day offered a historical tour of the Dora Franklin Finley African- American Heritage Trail. With an emphasis on giving back, the program’s impact included almost $9,000 in scholarships for participants and grants to 13 local and national charities. Fourteen young ladies from our area and as far away as South Carolina participated in this weekend of opportunity. We offer warm congratulations to both them and the Maynards for their continuous support of their community. Save the date for next year’s pageant showcase June 16–18, 2023 Visit TheMaynard4Foundation.org for details.